Alaska Rush’s Board of Directors, its staff, its Coaches, its players and its parents all take seriously and strive daily to act in accordance with the Rush Core Values (Accountability, Advice, Empathy, Enjoyment, Humility, Leadership, Passion, Respect, Safety, Tenacity and Unity), and the Rush Soccer Mission Statement: Rush Soccer is committed to providing an unparalleled soccer experience for all who have interest in the game of soccer. The Rush promotes the spirit of sportsmanship, the electricity of competition and the importance of pure enjoyment. The Rush accepts the responsibilities of teaching life lessons to our athletes to further their development inside the game and out. The Rush is committed to making soccer a pleasant, safe and rewarding experience for everyone involved, regardless of age or ability. We believe that all players are winners because everyone is afforded an equal opportunity to explore their potential and pursue positive outcomes on and off the field. Through quality coaching, sound leadership and absolute sincerity, the Rush will work to be the best club in the state, nation and world.

Codes of Conduct

To implement these aspirational concepts, Rush has created separate Codes of Conduct for its coaches, its players and its parents. Those have been discussed at length with those to whom they apply, trained on, and signed to assure comprehension of the concepts, and agreement to abide by their terms.

Unfortunately, as in any organization, incidents arise that constitute violations of these codes of conduct. Serious and actionable violations of these Codes can, and should, become the basis of an investigation and where warranted will be addressed with follow-up action.

Note that Alaska Rush is an organization with highly competitive players, coaches, and parents, all with different backgrounds, abilities, expectations and modes of expression. Considering this, there are countless frustrations, disagreements, opposition to basic coaching techniques, and points of minor misconduct that, while perhaps not within the spirit of a code of conduct are “minor” infractions and are not considered “Actionable Code Violations.” An Actionable Code Violation is a violation of a Code of Conduct that is serious, systemic, pervasive and/or involves player safety.

To the maximum extent possible, minor infractions should be worked out at the situational level using on-the-ground conflict resolution techniques: players should work out disagreements with players, parents with parents, and parents with coaches/managers. Patience, respect and understanding should be used to resolve such matters.

Conduct Committee.

For Actionable Code Violations, or in the event that good faith situational conflict resolution techniques discussed above do not adequately address a minor infraction, the matter can -- and should -- be elevated.

To avoid grievances being brought through informal channels such as verbal complaints to Rush staff, team managers or individual Board members, the Rush Board of Directors and Technical Staff have worked together to create an avenue for aggrieved individuals to lodge formal complaints. This mechanism is the Rush Alaska Conduct Committee.

The Conduct Committee was appointed by the Board of Directors, answers to the Board of Directors, and serves as the sole conduit for requests to address Actionable Code Violations. The Conduct Committee is composed of three individuals from Anchorage and Fairbanks who are Rush coaches and also possess personal/professional skills appropriate to this important post, such as professional expertise in the law or risk assessment.

Code Violation Complaint Procedure.

Committee members should not be approached individually or informally. For an alleged Actionable Code Violation, a complainant will:

Complainant’s name and contact information. Anonymous complaints do not allow for adequate and proper investigation, and may not allow the Conduct Committee the ability to investigate as effectively or timely. If a matter is serious enough to be characterized as an Actionable Code Violation, it should not be anonymous. Thus, anonymous complaints are not prohibited, but are highly discouraged. Bear in mind that retaliation of any kind for bringing violations to the attention of Rush staff, the Rush Board of Directors, or the Conduct Committee, is strictly prohibited and would itself form the basis of an Actionable Code Violation, meriting inquiry and severe discipline.

A detailed account of the alleged violation(s) of which Code(s) of Conduct, including who committed it, when and where it occurred, and what proof is available to substantiate the complaint.

Witness contact information, including a statement about what such witnesses should be able to verify or corroborate.

The Conduct Committee will follow-up appropriately with any possible investigation, witness interviews, and analysis.

The Conduct Committee will generate a confidential investigative report, with findings and recommended action, to include no action, remedial action, or disciplinary action.

The Board’s findings and recommendations will be presented to the Rush Board of Directors, who will review the findings with appropriate staff (excluding any staff who are or may be implicated in the findings).

The Rush Board of Directors will, in executive session, make a final disposition and direct whatever follow-up actions may be appropriate.

The complaint, investigation and action will be kept private and confidential to the extent practicable, limited only to necessary parties and the complainant(s). Those assisting in the investigation will be asked to cooperate in maintaining discretion by also maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of the matter(s) investigated and participants of such investigation(s).